Share

Van Persie: No deal for my kid

London - Captain Robin van Persie insists Arsenal have not tried to sign his son Shaqueel but admitted they invited the five-year-old in for training sessions.

The Dutch striker’s son hit the headlines this week when it was claimed that the Gunners had heard of his prodigious talent and hoped to add him to their youth ranks. Van Persie says that Shaqueel is happy playing with his friends but could occasionally train with his father’s club as well.

“He plays in a team with some of his school friends; he is lucky to have a very good coach, who I rate highly. Those kids have so much fun, and I don’t really want to take him away from all that. “We have the option to take him for an extra session a week at Arsenal and we’re thinking about it - I might bring him along to try it and see whether he likes it,” Van Persie told Arsenal.com.

Despite confirming the club’s invitation to the youngster Van Persie reiterated that this move does not necessarily mean the club is keen on the five-year-old.

“But it’s not as serious as Arsenal wanting to sign him - the club just gave us the option to have a look, because they’ve seen and heard a couple of things about him. It’s true that he’s doing well and has good timing, but like any kid of his age he enjoys a lot of different things.

“It’s far too early to say that he’s a special talent or anything like that; for me, the main thing for both of my children is that they enjoy whatever they are doing, whether it’s football or something else. I saw a couple of newspaper articles talking about him but trust me, it’s nothing that serious!”

Shaqueel’s prowess at golf has also been the subject of speculation, and Van Persie says his son has shown promising signs in the sport.
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE